Expected rewards and costs
n Expected costs
Time, money
Perceived ability to afford an episode of care in terms of fees
and time
Social costs
Anxiety about the dental episode – expected pain, fear,
anxiety
Self-esteem – the perceived “social distance” between
provider and patient
Cost of search – especially for individuals without a usual
source of care
n Level of uncertainty associated with any of the above:
 greater uncertainty about the costs/more confidence in the
rewards…
could lead to increased probability of beginning an episode
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